Workshop #1: Understanding FOLLOW ME

Workshop #1:Understanding FOLLOW ME

March 19, 2012

Follow-up Questions from the Workshop Overview Webinar (3/12)?

Please enter in chat room.

Introduction & Prayer• Led by the Rev. Jay Sidebotham

– Rector, Church of the Holy Spirit

• The Rev. Scott Gunn– Executive Director, Forward Movement

• The Rev. Clarence Langdon– Bishop’s staff, Episcopal Diocese of Chicago

• Eric Arnson– Research advisor & REVEAL co-originator

Today’s Purpose

• Recap the Webinar Overview• Review the Facilitator Guide in-depth

– Focus on the Exercises

• Discuss the homework (pre-reading)• Provide suggestions to optimize outcomes

Work in Progress!• Webinar is a new resource, so may not be

perfect• Do welcome feedback—positive or

constructive—throughout the entire process• Especially this workshop, as it sets the tone

and direction

“Please be patient, God is not finished with me yet.”

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Phases

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1. RevealWorks—Willow Creek (2003, still going strong)

2. Episcopal Incubator—Church of the Holy Spirit (2009)

3. Episcopal Pilots—15 Churches (2010)

4. Episcopal Expansion (now)

Developed by & for Episcopalians

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General Construct• Four sessions:

– 1. Spiritual Formation: Understanding FOLLOW ME– 2. Data Sharing: Parish Profiles & Survey Findings– 3. Applying Best Practice Principles to your Church– 4. The Plan and Guiding Metrics

• Each session starts with Scripture & Discussion• Homework, most pre-reading

Workshop #1

Workshop #1: Purpose & Outcomes

• What ‘s at stake—can’t stay where we are• Understand Spiritual Growth Framework• Honest examination of congregants personal

spiritual journey• Church’s role in parishioners’ spiritual growth

Pre-Reading

Has been modified to improve fit with exercises and times required.

All workshops changes and refinements will by available by 3/29/2013

Exercise 1: Personal Experiences• Best done in groups of four

– Part of homework, in the Participant Guide• Capture as part of Life-line exercise

– Visual format will be available by next webinar• Begins with quality of life and overall satisfaction

– Highlight ebbs and flows of your life– What were the catalysts for movements

• What was my spiritual lifeline throughout the same period?– Where did you experience growth? Where stalled?

• Key learnings are shared with group

Exercise 2 & 3:--Spiritual Life Continuum

--Spiritual Growth Framework

“I believe in Jesus and am working on

what it means to get to know him.”

“I feel really close to Christ and depend

on him daily for guidance.”

“My relationship with Jesus is the most

important relationship in my life It guides everything I

do.”

Growing

Close

Centered

Exploring

“I believe in God, but I am not sure about

Christ. My faith is not a significant part of

my life.”

23%52%

19%6%

Spiritual Growth Continuum Episcopal Churches Composite

Relatively low development ofspiritual maturity

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Custom Episcopal Survey

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blanks

Episcopal Survey:Additional Topics

– Eucharist

– Prayers of the People

– Interfaith Conversation

– Social Justice

– Symbols/Cross

‣ Liturgy

‣ Christian Seasons

‣ Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter, Pentecost

‣ Sharing the Peace

‣ Prayers of Confession

‣ Music

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Spiritual

Practices

Faith-in-Action

DiscipleFollower

Believer

Beginner

Christian

Relationships

Movement 1

Movement 2

Movement 3

Three purely Episcopal spiritual catalysts were analyzed

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Totally Episcopalian Insights:Practices, Relationships, Faith-in-Action• Catalysts for growth

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Growing

Close

Centered

Exploring

• Read the Bible,

Solitude• Prayer for Others, Love

of God• Meet with Close Friend,

Small Group• Serve those in Need

(Church), on Own

• The Eucharist• Prayer to Give Thanks• Serve in a Church

Ministry• Serve those in Need

(Church)

• Solitude• Prayer for Guidance• Prayer to Express My

Love of God

Most Influential Episcopal Church Inputs

• Catalysts for growth

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Growing

Close

Centered

Exploring

• Prioritizes my spiritual growth over my church membership

• Provides a worship service that is challenging and thought provoking

• Helps me develop a relationship with Christ

• Engages me in the Sacraments in a way that helps me grow spiritually

• Challenges me to grow and take next steps spiritually

• Promotes a strong serving culture that is widely recognized by the local community

Conclusions

• Congregants are in all stages of maturity

• Episcopal Framework similar, some unique aspects

• Are definitive activities that drive spiritual growth

Exercise 4:Role of the Church

Exercise 4: Role of the Church

Points to Highlight

• Think about your own spiritual life-line. What are the connections to your church?– Role of Clergy– Role of Lay Leadership– Roles of Ministries– Spiritual friends, mentors– Activities and events

• What did you hear from others in your group?

Workshop #2 Homework

• Parish and Community Profiles– Should be assigned NOW

• Episcopal ‘Renewal’ Survey Report– Sample on website now

• Note: Best Practice Principles are referenced in report– Detailed discussion will occur as part of workshop #3

• Any additional questions for next session

Workshop #1: Purpose & Outcomes

• What ‘s at stake—can’t stay where we are• Understand Spiritual Growth Framework• Honest examination of congregants personal

spiritual journey• Church’s role in parishioners’ spiritual growth

Key to set expectations

•Questions?

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Concluding Remarks & Prayer• Led by the Rev. Jay Sidebotham

Next Steps & Thanks!

• Next session: March 26th at 2pm CDT• Focus will be Workshop 2• Homework assignment:

– Read Facilitators Guide, pages 23-36– Sample Church Report will be e-mailed with invite

to the next webinar

Appendix

Workshop Team Composition• Modeled after a Search Committee• Lay led—a must• Clergy, Rector in particular, must not guide

– Nor back seat driving

• Need a separate time-keeper• Plus a separate scribe

– That gets notes and follow-up done

Helpful Hints• Encourage a bit of hospitality 15-20 minutes

before each workshop starts– A number will not know each other

• Start and end each sub-section promptly, even if not completely finished

• Post the key elements of each session to demonstrate progress and be a reference

• Keep a ‘parking lot’ flip chart for unanswered questions, suggestions, follow-up

More Lessons Learned• Make sure ALL the voices are heard

– Set as an expectation, then prompt

• Make differences a value– Will be different viewpoints, especially on ‘growth’

• Do fewer things, well– Will try to do too much

• Close with a reassuring and encouraging prayer